Chapter 6
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My finger hovered over the power button.
It was not because I was unsure of leaving, but because I was wondering if leaving so abruptly was really the best choice.
Lyle noticed my hesitation. He tugged at my sleeve, lowering his head, his voice muffled as he reminded me, “Mommy, we should go.”
Looking into his urging eyes, everything suddenly became clear to me.
I had always known that Henry was not a good person. I knew he did not love me. I knew this marriage was a complete mistake.
However, I still blindly threw myself into it because I truly loved him at that time.
Now, I had someone I loved even more–my child.
I could not keep fantasizing about parting on good terms or hoping for a change of heart.
What I needed to do now was take my son’s hand and move forward.
I turned off my phone and looked at my son’s innocent face, feeling as though a strange force had taken over my heart.
It was something warmer than the fleeting and elusive nature of love.
“Let’s go.
“Mommy and you are starting a new life!”
At the company, Henry stared at the notification that his messages could not be delivered. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Yesterday, he had rushed over only to find that Ethan was upset because he wanted ice cream, which gave him a stomach ache.
After he finally calmed Ethan down and was about to take him back to school, he realized it was already too late.
Neither I nor my son were waiting for him.
While in the car, he had thought of many excuses to explain things.
However, he did not feel relieved when he saw the empty street. Instead, he felt an emptiness in his chest.
It was like someone he had been sure would always be there had suddenly left.
Henry suddenly smiled at the thought of this.
How could that be?
How could Serena ever want to leave him?
She would never want to…
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Chapter 6
Back in the car, Henry headed straight to the company.
History had repeated itself many times.
When facing his mistakes, he chose to run away, hoping that time would heal everything.
Seven years ago, when he realized he had forced himself onto me while drunk, he did the same.
Seven years later, he hurt our child again for the sake of Evelyn and did the same again.
The phone rang. It was Evelyn.
“Henry, where are you?
“Can you come over and accompany me? I’m scared…”
Her voice was soft, the kind of gentle and vulnerable tone Henry loved.
It was completely different from Serena’s.
Different.
Henry listened to the phone call, but a memory from seven years ago replayed uncontrollably in his mind.
That chaotic night.
No one knew, but he was sober.
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He walked into the wrong room sober. He had pulled me into his arms sober, and he did everything that someone who was not
sober would not have done.
As for why…
Henry tightened his grip on the steering wheel. A dark shadow flashed across his eyes.
It was because I was too bright, like a little sun.
I was earnest, diligent, optimistic…
All those beautiful words seemed to apply to me.
It was especially when I looked at him. My eyes were shining so brightly that he almost lost his composure several times.
However, it was that brightness that scared him.
He feared that, like Evelyn, he would not be able to keep me either.
Thus, when he woke up the next morning, he pretended to know nothing. He used the harshest words to provoke and hurt me,
making me feel insecure, guilty, and doubtful of myself.
Only then would I willingly stay by his side.
